UK passport renewal has not arrived

[fft100]

Buksida,

you said they have changed passport applications for children back to Bangkok. Where did you get that from ? Looking on the websites, they are saying it is at least 8 weeks, and all applications are sent to the UK. It was so much easier 6 years ago....

[dozer]

Passport backlog threatens summer holiday chaos for thousands

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... sands.html

[Big Boy]

One of the reasons I got out of the Civil Service. Job numbers were being cut beyond what was practical. Interestingly, my old post had to be filled a couple of months after they released me. Somebody actually realised that I had been doing a job after all

[thepalmbistro]

We finally received ours last week by DHL. They had the application since the last week of March, charged my CC on the 1st April but did not process it till the 25th May. Way to long to wait for a passport.

[dozer]

Leaked pictures of piles of applications in Passport Office room usually used for meetings undermines denials of backlog

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... elays.html


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... overy.html

[dozer]

Mark Stone of SKY news is on Twitter and he is looking for Brits that are living abroad and having trouble with passport renewal.

Mark Stone ‏@Stone_SkyNews · 16m
Calling all Brits living abroad! Having trouble renewing your passport now that local embassies won't issue them?? Get in touch with me.

[dozer]

Things might be getting easier for expat Brits.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... cklog.html

Passport Office staff were told to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad to try and reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, according to leaked documents

[Dannie Boy]

Things might be getting easier for expat Brits.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... cklog.html

Passport Office staff were told to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad to try and reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, according to leaked documents

Or maybe not as Ministers block attempts to ease checks........

[dozer]

Things might be getting easier for expat Brits.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... cklog.html

Passport Office staff were told to relax checks on applicants for British passports from abroad to try and reduce a backlog of at least 30,000, according to leaked documents

Or maybe not as Ministers block attempts to ease checks........

Yeah, just heard on Radio 2, that, that memo has been withdrawn.......talk about the left hand not knowing what the right is doing

[Watchglobal]

If you have the chance to go to UK to renew the passport I highly recommend it. After going to the new office in BKK I decided not to chance waiting so long for a new passport and instead went to UK (What if an emergency arose and you have no passport to leave while waiting) .
Before going I phoned the number on the UK Passport website and made an appointment for the Premium Service in London, Victoria Passport Office. Had a 12:45 pm appointment on May 23 and had new passport in hand same day at 4:30 pm for a cost of 128 pounds. Only waited half an hour at 12:45 to be served then went for a walk and a drink went back at 4:30 and waited only 1 minute in a line to pick up the new passport.
Well worth the trip in my opinion and spent a week seeing my relatives as well.

[dalmatiandave]

If you have the chance to go to UK to renew the passport I highly recommend it. After going to the new office in BKK I decided not to chance waiting so long for a new passport and instead went to UK (What if an emergency arose and you have no passport to leave while waiting) .
Before going I phoned the number on the UK Passport website and made an appointment for the Premium Service in London, Victoria Passport Office. Had a 12:45 pm appointment on May 23 and had new passport in hand same day at 4:30 pm for a cost of 128 pounds. Only waited half an hour at 12:45 to be served then went for a walk and a drink went back at 4:30 and waited only 1 minute in a line to pick up the new passport.
Well worth the trip in my opinion and spent a week seeing my relatives as well.

Exactly what I would do, I travel to the UK every 12-18 months so would ensure renewing my passport whilst there. It is what I did in 2012 and what I will do again prior to it's expiry in May 2022.

Of course I appreciate that some older retirees may just require a passport for their visa extension while staying in Thailand or other country they call their home.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

[Dannie Boy]

If you have the chance to go to UK to renew the passport I highly recommend it. After going to the new office in BKK I decided not to chance waiting so long for a new passport and instead went to UK (What if an emergency arose and you have no passport to leave while waiting) .
Before going I phoned the number on the UK Passport website and made an appointment for the Premium Service in London, Victoria Passport Office. Had a 12:45 pm appointment on May 23 and had new passport in hand same day at 4:30 pm for a cost of 128 pounds. Only waited half an hour at 12:45 to be served then went for a walk and a drink went back at 4:30 and waited only 1 minute in a line to pick up the new passport.
Well worth the trip in my opinion and spent a week seeing my relatives as well.

This is a very good option for anybody going back to the UK, although of course for anybody without a reason to go back, not good financially. Having said that, it's definitely what I will do when my passport needs renewing

[bapak]

See this BBC report...

[dozer]

British passport holders can apply for a second passport, with a letter justify the application from their employer or for the self-employed and retired, a letter from their accountant will suffice.

[dozer]

Passport crisis: Automatic extensions for hundreds of thousands of expats, Theresa May says

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... -says.html